Breaking Your Digital Addiction

How many of us feel digitally “connected” yet, ironically, more removed from our priorities than ever before? Do you feel constantly distracted? Compelled to snap a photo and document every life occasion, while missing the joy of the moment?

Here are a few easy tips to help you break your digital addition:

1. Start the day proactively

If the first thing you do upon waking is reach for your phone to check your notifications, you have already set yourself up for reactivity for the rest of the day. Instead, get up, do some stretches, talk to your children, hug someone, but whatever you do, don’t start your day glued to your phone.

2. Turn off your notifications
Navigating your own smartphone system, find a way to turn off those pesky notifications. Then follow step 3.

3. Create rules around social media “browsing”
How often do you look down at your phone to see if anyone has liked your posts or sent you a message? Ask yourself if you’ve become a habitual checker and, if so, choose to stop. As Tim Ferris advocates in the Four Hour Work Week, allocate times during the day to check your email or engage in social media — and be religious about it. While checking your emails only three times a day, like Ferris recommends, may not be realistic, find a schedule that works for you.

4. Be reachable by phone
It is not always responsible to be offline if you have responsibilities. Be clear and let people know how to reach you if something is urgent. This will also give you comfort as you don’t have to worry about missing anything important.

5. Create sacred disconnect time
Mondays are when I go rock climbing, read books, run, fast, meditate and play with my dog. Most importantly, Mondays allow me to to be fully present. Whatever day or timing works for you, find it. No excuses!

6. Never bring your devices to bed
They disrupt your sleep and take the place of a good book. Place your devices out of reach with the airplane mode on.